Faerun: The arcane mage is still too imprisoned.

Lance looked at the experience points on the panel.

Current experience: 6295/5000

He already had more than enough experience to level up to level 6, but he wasn't in a hurry to level up.

I haven't learned all the three ring spells yet.

He hovered in mid-air, the night wind whistling, his long, silvery-white hair flowing behind him. Little Black peeked out from his arms, curiously watching its master suddenly freeze again.

"Master, why are you always spacing out?"

"No." Lance looked down at it. "I was contemplating life."

"Meow?" Little Black tilted its head, looking puzzled.

Lance ignored it, focusing his consciousness on the system panel and opening the spell learning interface.

The list of third-circle spells unfolded before his eyes, a dense and extensive expanse.

[Consuming 300 experience points, you have learned the third-level spell – Stink Cloud!]

【Stinky Cloud Spell: Within a radius of 90 meters, you create a yellowish-green, foul-smelling cloud with a radius of 20 meters, spreading outwards from the designated point. The cloud will spread around corners.】

The fog persists in the air for ten minutes, or is dispersed by moderate to strong winds. Any creature completely engulfed in the fog must exercise a constitutional exemption every minute.

Those who fail the exemption will vomit due to the foul odor of the cloud for five minutes. During this time, affected creatures are unable to take any action. Any creature that does not require respiration or immunity to toxins will automatically pass the exemption.

[Consuming 300 experience points, you have learned the third-circle spell – Hypnotic Pattern!]

[Hypnotic Pattern: You create a colorful pattern that dances and rotates in the air within a cubic area with sides of 30 meters, within a range of 120 meters.]

The pattern disappears after a short while, then forces every creature in the area that sees it to make a perception save; those who fail the save will be charmed for the duration of the spell.

Creatures charmed by this spell become incapacitated and their speed is reduced to 0.

If the affected creature suffers any harm, or if someone shakes it awake from its daze, the spell's effect on it will cease.

Control spells, the more the better.

[Consuming 300 experience points, you have learned the third-level spell – Ashardron Run!]

[Ashadragon Sprint: Dragon-like roaring flames encircle your feet, granting you explosive speed. For one minute, your speed increases by 20 meters per second, and movement will not trigger opportunistic attacks.]

When you move within 5 meters of a creature or unarmored or uncarried object, it will be burned by your Scorching Trail, taking 6 Fire damage. A creature or object can only take this damage once every 6 seconds.

[Consuming 300 experience points, you have learned the third-level spell – Spell Counter!]

[Spell Counter: Within 60 meters, you can attempt to interrupt a creature's spellcasting.]

If the creature is casting a spell of 3rd level or lower, the spell fails and has no effect.

If the creature is casting a spell of 4th level or higher, you make an attribute check with the casting critical attribute, the DC of which is 10 + the target spell's level. If the check succeeds, the target spell fails and has no effect.

This is the most cost-effective mage skill.

[Consuming 300 experience points, you have learned the third-level spell – Roaring Shield!]

[Noisy Shield: A thunderous roar echoes within a 10-meter radius aura originating from you for ten minutes during the spell's duration.]

Whenever an aura zone enters the space of a visible creature, or when a visible creature enters an aura zone or ends its turn in that zone, that creature must make a Constitution saving throw.

If the saving throw fails, the creature takes 18 points of thunder damage and becomes deaf until the start of your next turn. If the saving throw succeeds, the creature takes only half the damage. A creature can only make this saving throw once per minute. When you cast this spell, you can specify which creatures are unaffected.

In addition, you gain resistance to thunder damage and are at a disadvantage on all ranged attack rolls you make.

It's great for clearing out mobs, but its range is only 10 meters, so you need to get close.

……

Soon, Lance had only 295 experience points left, and he closed the panel with satisfaction.

He now possesses thirty-three third-circle spells.

"Tsk." Lance couldn't help but laugh. "I'm too strong now."

Little Black peeked its head out from his arms: "Master, your smile is so strange~"

"It's nothing." Lance rubbed its head. "Let's go, continue the reconnaissance."

He increased his altitude and continued flying south.

Those three thousand cavalrymen were just the vanguard; the main force was still behind.

According to the intelligence from that prisoner Marcus, the main force should be in this direction, about... well, we should be able to see them in another hour or so of flying.

……

Lance noticed something unusual in his field of vision.

Below lay a vast plain, with a river flowing through it. On the east bank of the river, a dark mass of people thronged the area.

The army of the Sassanid kingdom.

These should be the main force.

If the vanguard has Exemplary-level professionals, then the main force must also have them, perhaps more than one... I just don't know if there are any mages.

Lance immediately increased his altitude while casting a spell.

[Upgraded Ring Casting - Invisibility!]

The magical power instantly enveloped him and the black cat in his arms. His figure vanished into thin air.

In stealth mode, Lance slowly descended and began to observe carefully.

This army was much larger than the vanguard.

The infantry formations were neatly arranged along the riverbank, numbering at least 20,000.

The cavalry patrolled the flanks, but their numbers were small; those were probably the majority of the cavalry from before.

He began searching for the strongest members of the army.

He soon discovered an area in the center of the camp—there were a dozen or so more luxurious tents, noticeably larger than the others. The soldiers standing around the tents were also better equipped, wearing half-body plate armor and carrying standard-issue halberds.

It should be a high-level camp.

Lance slowly descended, circled around to the top of the large tents, and squinted as he observed.

The first tent was the largest, with a large flag stuck at the entrance—black with gold trim, embroidered with a black eagle spreading its wings, holding a battle axe in its talons.

The commander's tent.

It's not safe to go in and investigate on my own.

[Upgraded Ring Casting - Summon Scout Mosquitoes!]

A mosquito quietly flew in.

[Target: Cassius Valentine]

Race: Human

[Class: Warrior]

[Level: 12]

[Target: Vera Stonefist]

Race: Human

[Class: Warrior]

[Level: 11]

Two canonical stages.

One is level 12, and the other is level 11.

Lance silently noted it down and continued to observe.

There was another tent next to it, smaller than the head coach's, but larger than the other tents.

He floated over slowly and looked down through the ventilation opening at the top of the tent.

A magic lamp was lit inside the tent, casting a soft light. A man dressed in a dark blue mage's robe was sleeping.

He looked to be in his fifties, thin, and with a sinister face.

[Target: Edwin Frostwhisper]

Race: Human

[Class: Mage]

[Level: 8]